76 Submissions for the Academy Award Nomination for Best Foreign Language Film

76 Submissions for the Academy Award Nomination for Best Foreign Language Film

In line with SydneysBuzz’s focus on the international film business we have put together the most complete list on the 76 national submissions for the Nomination for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. This list showcases films that have been the centerpieces of the most renowned festivals and that
represent the best in the cinematic landscape from across the globe. Last year, at this point in the race the clear favorite was Palm d’Or winner Amour by Michael Haneke,
which went on to win the award with no significant competition and scoring 4 other nominations including Best Picture, an outstanding feat for a international film about love at the end of life.

This time around the story could have repeated almost identically with the most recent winner of Cannes’ biggest prize Blue is the Warmest Color. However, the film became one more victim of the Academy’s rules, which rendered it unqualified to compete
because of the late release date in France. With Blue out of the race the award is fair game for virtually anyone on the list, although
there are certainly some favorites.

Saudi Arabia’s first ever submission, the charming Wadjdamight turn into beginners luck and score the Kingdom, in which movie theaters
are banned, a nomination or even a win. Iran’s audacious decision to submit the French-language The Pastcaused uproar among
conservatives, but might certainly score the nation another nomination after their win in 2012 with the masterful A Separation, though two films so close together by the same director, Asghar Frhadi make it a very long shot.Other strong contenders are
Denmark’s The Huntstarring Mads Mikkelsen, which would continue the country’s streak of 3 consecutive nominations winning in 2011
with In A Better World, as well as Canada’sGabrielleabout the romantic relationship of a handicapped couple, and Hong
Kong’s The Grandmaster by famous director Wong Kar-wai.

Italy’s The Great Beauty, Romania’s Child’s Pose, Chile’s Gloriaand Australia’s The Rocket, are among other titles that might score a nomination given their success and prominence during their festivals rounds. Some
countries decided to take a chance and send audacious choices as their representation to the Academy, so is the case of Mexico, a country that chose the more
violent and artistically daring Cannes winner Heli, over the hit comedy Instructions Not Included, or Greece’s Boy Eating The Bird’s Food, which includes grotesque imagery that might not sit well with Academy members.

The African continent is minimally represented with only 4 entries, the miraculous Grigris from Chad, South Africa’s Four Corners, and the Arabic-language works God’s Horses from Morocco, andWinter of Discontent from Egypt. Algeria, which has submitted regularly and even scored
several nominations, is absent in this occasion. Equally strange is France’s decision to enter Renoirover tons of other films that could have substituted
Abdellatif Kechiche’s masterpiece.

Less surprising is Russia’s decision to submit a blockbuster-style production with a very nationalistic message in lieu of a more intimate film. On the
other hand, Cambodia, Lithuania, and Switzerland decided to go with documentaries, a choice that has never been very fruitful in this category, while Uruguay boldly decided to send the animated feature Anina. Lastly,
Israel and Palestine both entered strong candidate with Bethlehem and Omar respectively, adding with that to the great year the region has seen in the
cinematic realm.

The rest of the films are a mixture of obscure titles with not much exposure outside their homelands, and a others with great premise but equally unknown
quality. Thankfully for SydneysBuzz readers, the list below compiles all 76 Foreign Submissions and includes links to more information and a link to the
trailer of every single one of them. For the most part the clips are subtitled; the ones that are not will at least give the reader a sense of what the
film is about. As the Awards Season develops, we will have updates on predicted nominees and other developments in the race for the Best Foreign Language
Film.

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THE REPUBLICAN ARE THE WORST POLITICIAN EVER. THEIR POINTS OF VIEW ARE AWFUL, USURIOUS, IGNORANT, THAT JUST DEFEND THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP INTEREST. PEOPLE OF USA WAKING UP AND GO TO THE STREET TO PROTEST AGAINST THE FASCISM AND NEOLIBERAL USURIOUS POLICTS. FOR FREEDOM, FOR THE PEOPLE, GO TO THE STREET PROTEST

Hi.
We would like to clarify that the Indian entry "The Good Road" was not part of Cannes 2012. It was, however, a part of the London Indian Film Festival in 2013.
Would appreciate if the said detail is changed.
Thanks